Feeding mechanism for cotton-seed linters.



J. S. MUNRO.

FEEDING MEGHANISM FOR COTTON SEED ENTERS urmouxon FILED MAR, 28. was.

NO MODEL. 2 BHBETS--SHIIBT l- PATENTED APR. 12 1904.

PATENTED APR. 12, 1904.

J, s. MUNRO.

FEEDING MECfiANISM FOR COTTQN SEED ENTERS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

.1 i k H W shown in elevation.

UNITED STATES I 'atented Ami-i2, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN MUNRO, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

FEEDING-MECHANISM FOR COTTON-SEED LI'NTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,137, dated April12, 1 904. I I

Application filed March 28, 1903.

To all whom it'may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN S. MUNRO, a subject'of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State ofTennessee, have invented a new and useful Feeding Mechanism forCotton-Seed Linters, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to an improved feeding mechanism for cotton-seedlinters. ,It has for its object to provide a device in which the feedingoperation may be performed with certainty and efliciency.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the improvedconstruction which will be hereinafter particularly described, andparticularly pointed out in the claim. 5"

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation illustratingmy invention applied in position for operation to a cottonlinter, a partof the framework of which is Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view takenthrough the hopper and feedchute of the linter. Fig. 3 is a sectionalview taken on the line 5 5 in Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a side elevation of theshield for governing the speed of the feed.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by similarnumerals of reference.

1 designates the top, and 2 a portion of the framework, of a linterwhich is of ordinary construction.

3 is the feed-chute, containing the feed-shaft 4, carrying at its outerend a ratchet-wheel 5. 6 is a bracket rising from the opposite side ofthe linter-frame and forming a support for a driven shaft 7, carrying aneccentric 8, which carries the eccentric-strap 9, one part of which isprovidcdwith a socket 10, in whichthe inner end of an eccentric-rod 11is secured by means of a set-screw 12. The rod '11 may be of ordinaryround iron.

Suitably secured to the iron part of the feeder-box, in whichthejournals of the feedershaft 4 are supported, is a bracket13, theupper end of which has a journal-box supporting ashaft or pivotal pin15, upon the projecting end of which is pivotally mounted a sleeve 16,having an upwardly-extending arm 17, which constitutes a rocker theupper end of which is provided with a laterally-extendthe hopper.

Serial No. 150,046. (No model.)

ing pin 18, upon which is pivotally mounted a sleeve 19, the under sideof which has=a socket 20, in which the outer end of the connecting-rod11 is adjustable by means of a setscrew 21. The upper end of the rocker17 is also pivotally connected with a pull-dog or pawl 22, having anadjustable tooth 23, adapted to engage the ratchet-wheel 5.

The hub of the ratchet-wheel5 is provided with an annular recess 25,forming a shoulder .upon which is seated the hub portion- 26 of a shield27 Said shield comprises an angular plate the upper edge of which issegmental in shape and disposed slightly beyond the .periphery of theratchet-wheel, said shield being provided with a segmental guard-28,which forms a cover for a portion of the teeth of the ratchet-wheel.This guard maybe secured inposition upbn the shield by means ofsetscrews 29. The lower portion of the shield 27 is provided with acounterweight 30, extending under the ratchet-wheel. i

33 designates a connecting-rod provided at its upper end with a slot 3&,engaging the pin 31 in the shield-plate, and upon which it may beretained in any suitable manner. Said connecting-rod extends downwardlyand has piv:

otal connection with a crank 35 upon the outer end of a rock-shaft 36,which is mounted pivotally in the hopper 37 of the linter. Said hoppercontains the usual winged roller .38, which servesto agitate the mass ofseed contained in the hopper and to bring it within the field'of actionof the saws. The rockshaft 36 carries a float 39, which normally restsand is supported upon the mass of seed'contained in the hopper.

It is obvious that when from anypause there is not a sufliciency of seedin the hopper the float 39 will swing downward and acting through theslotted arm 33, which engages the pin 31 of the shield, will draw thesaid shield out from under the end of the pawl 22 and allow the latterto act upon the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 5, thereby increasing therange of movement of the feed mechanism and supplying an. increasedquantity of cotton-seed to This action will continue until thenormalamount of seed is in the hopper,

when the float 39 will be forced upward and saw-cylinder shaft inthesists in the cam-shaped the counterweight 30 of the shield 27 willrestore the latter to normal position. When in this position, the pawlwhen actuated will partially ride upon the guard 28 and on its returnstroke will move the ratchet-wheel but a short distance. This automaticregulating mechanism is quite sensitive and will enable the cotton-seedto be fed at just the proper rate of speed to enable it to be acted uponby the timer, and the governing mechanism, as will be seen, operatesautomatically.

' The counter-shaft 7 may be driven from the lint'er by belting it tothe same, as will be readily understood, the belt-pulleys beingproportioned so as to give the desired relative speeds. Other means ofdriving said shaft 7 may, however, be used, and driving means have notbeen illustrated in the drawings, because the necessity for theirpresence Will be well understood and for the further reason that theyform no part of the invention.

The rocker 17 is preferably provided with a Web or'fin, whereby it isbraced, as will be readily understood, to enableit to resist strain.

In operation the rotation of the shaft '1. with its eccentric 8,imparts, through the connecting rod or pitman 11, a rocking oroscillatory motion to the rocker 17, whereby the pawl 22 is caused toimpart to the feed-shaft 4 an intermittent rotary motion such as isdesired in this class of mechanism, the extent of such motion beingdetermined by the means hereinbefore described. I

The mechanism thus far described is a well- .known form of cotton-seedfeeder to which my My improvement conprojection 32, engaging against theside of said connecting-rod, which will positively prevent theshield-plate from being swung by the action of the counterweight anyfarther in the direction of the invention is applied.

pawl when the connecting-rod is at the upper limit of its movement, asillustrated in Fig. l of the drawings. This is important for the reasonthat in the absence of some such restraining means the pawl would beliable to engage the edge of the guard-plate 28, in which event injuryor breakage might result. Thus l l 1 ii I l I l g l l l l l l l l l l II l i l l i l j l l i earner in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings theslotted connecting-rbd has been shown as rising to a point at which thepin 31 ceases to be engaged by the upper {end of the slot 34;. If theshield 27 were perrntted to follow this movement, the plate 28 wou' saidguard-p te 28 would engaged by the pawl to the etriment of the workingparts. The danger of anything of the kind is, however, entirely obviatedby the presence of the cam-shaped projection 32, as will be readilyunderstood.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the feeder-shaftwill be operated with certainty and withoutdanger of interruptia. n.

Idesire it; to be understood that I do notlimit myself to the shown anddescribed, but reserve the right to such changes and modifications aslie within the scope of my invention and which may be resorted towithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing the utility of thesame.

Having thus described my invention, I claiin- In a device of the classdescribed, the combination of a ratchet-wheel upon the feedershaft, ashield connected pivotally with said ratchetnvheel and having aforwardly-extending pin and a cam-shaped extension, a guardplate at theupper end of saidshield extending over a portion of the teeth of theratchetw 'el, a counterweight at the lower end of said shield, a slottedrod connected with the pin upon the shield-plate and adapted, at theupward limit of its movement, to engage the cam-shaped prr- 'ection,means within the hop per of the machine for actuating saidconmeeting-rod, a rocking member and a pawl upon said. rocking memberhaving engagement with the :th of the ratchet-wheel limited by theguard-plate of the shield.

In testimony that I claim -the foregoing as I my own I have heretoatlixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN S. MUNRO. Witnesses:

EMMA Ronnnrs, MAY W ILLrAMs.

precise structural details herein-

